The holidays come with immense excitement — regardless of your age. Between special memories to make with friends and families, delicious food, and, yes, even gifts, there is so much to be excited and thankful for. But beyond these lovely things to celebrate, it’s important to think about those less fortunate who would dream of a warm meal and cozy place to sleep every night. It’s easy to get wrapped up in holiday cheers, but it’s important to teach kids the value of sharing that with others. 

How to Give Back During the Holidays

There are so many ways to give back both small and large. You don’t need to have an abundance of money or time to give back, as it truly is the thought that counts. Below are a few great ways to model for your kids or partake in together!

• Donate your time at a food bank. This time of year (and throughout the whole year), anyone can help out at a local food bank. This can mean going to help serve food, running a food drive, or collecting food from loved ones to bring to the food bank. It shows the value of helping others and doesn’t require much or any cost at all to participate in.
• “Adopt” a family for the holidays. One of my favorite memories as a kid was going shopping for a family during the holidays. It does cost money, but it feels wonderful to gather up food, necessities, and even toys if it’s on their wish list. You can look in your local town social media pages, the local hospital, or even some schools to anonymously get a wish list for a local family to help out.

• Write cards for vets or local elderly homes. If you have young kids that love to draw and make crafts, they’ll love the idea of making holiday cards for people. Vets may be very far away from their loved ones, and elderly people love the energy and thoughts from little kids. This costs very little and allows your kids to love the process if they’re artistic. 

• Teach empathy throughout the season. If times are tight and busy, you can also instill giving values through stories and discussions. So many movies and books teach empathy and the importance of thinking of others this time of year. Watch a movie with these values and have a chat with your kids to make sure they embody these values in their everyday life effortlessly. The Grinch is actually a great holiday movie that teaches the importance of including everyone, genuine care, and how we’re all humans at heart that want love and a community.

Giving Back Feels Good, Do More With Kids R’ Kids

We love when families carry out caring and giving acts at home, but we also love to partake in these things in the classroom as well. It’s never too late to sign up for pre-school at Kids R’ Kids. If you’re ready to enroll your children in a VPK program, you can contact us at any point